Akashirotsurubami
A pale peach-tan glowing with orange, akashirotsurubami joins the characters for red and white to the name of the sawtooth oak, lightening its acorn browns into a soft, warm pallor.
How it was dyed in 927
The Engishiki — the court regulations completed in 927 — records exactly what the palace dyehouse was allotted to dye this color. Quantities are per bolt of cloth; units are left in the original (1 kin ≈ 600 g, 1 shō ≈ 0.7 L in later standards — Heian equivalents are debated).
赤白橡 あかしろつるばみ Reddish pale acorn
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 skein of silk thread · 1 bolt of fine hemp cloth.
Original text 原文
赤白橡綾一疋、〈綿紬・糸紬・東絁亦同、〉黄櫨大九十斤、灰三石、茜大七斤、薪七百廿斤、帛一疋、黄櫨大七十斤、茜大五斤、灰二石、薪六百斤、糸一絇、黄櫨大五斤、灰一斗三升、茜大五両、薪卅斤、貲布一端、黄櫨大十五斤、灰三斗五升、茜大一斤八両、薪一百廿斤、
Text: 『デジタル延喜式』校訂文（縫殿寮）, National Museum of Japanese History · 1900 printed edition (NDL)
Tints & shades
Harmonies within the tradition
Complementary and triadic companions, chosen from real traditional colors — not computed values.
Similar colors
The namesake
クヌギ どんぐり — what the name literally points to.
